Fact or Fiction? Lost Tomb of Jesus

For some 40 years, one of the flashiest opal signets on display at the Israel Museum held no title, had no assigned owner until two weeks ago when Dutch researcher Marjo Korpel identified it as the official seal of Queen Jezebel.

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess that married Israel's King Ahab. The story is told in I Kings about how she moved King Ahab from God to worship Ba'al (Satan). She committed horrific acts against Israel's citizens and the prophets of God. In the end, she was defeated by prophet Elijah (through a showdown of priests) and Jehu, who killed her sons in battle and had her thrown off the window.

Jezebel is synonymous with most Christians as a symbol of evil. The findings are currently going through peer review and if the textual and archaeological research of her seal is true, it gives further evidence to the validity of the Bible and its historical accuracy.

Want to see how the book is utilized in the sermon? See this sermon in the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, California.

Mark your calendars!

Dr. Jodi Magness, a senior endowed chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will be giving lectures onboard Holland America's MS Veendam from January 27 — February 3, 2008. The cruise ship will start sailing from Tampa to Mexico to Belize and Guatamela. To sign up, click here.

Dr. Magness was one of the first folks to identify the weaknesses of the academically challenged docudrama, the Lost Tomb of Jesus. She will be giving lectures regarding the following topics:

The Jewish Background to Jesus and Paul
What does it mean when we describe Jesus and Paul as Jews? In this lecture we consider Jesus and Paul within the context of late Second Temple period Judaism.

Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
In this slide-illustrated lecture we examine the major monuments and sites of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period, focusing especially on the Temple Mount.

Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
We will survey the archaeology of Qumran, using information from the Dead Sea Scrolls to help understand the lifestyle and beliefs of the Jewish sect that lived at Qumran and deposited the scrolls in the nearby caves.

Ossuaries and the Burials of Jesus and James
In this slide-illustrated lecture we consider how Jesus and James were buried, within the context of Jewish burial customs of the late Second Temple period, including a discussion of the so-called James ossuary (bone box) and the Talpiyot tomb, claimed by some to be the burial cave of Jesus and his family.

Was the Holy Grail a Stone Cup?
A recent National Geographic special portrayed the Holy Grail as a stone cup, a type of vessel commonly used by some Jews in the late Second Temple period in connection with the observance of ritual purity. In this lecture we consider the accuracy of this reconstruction in light of our information about Jesus’ attitudes towards Jewish purity laws.

Ancient Synagogues
In this slide-illustrated lecture we survey ancient synagogues in Palestine (the Land of Israel) from the first to sixth century C.E., concentrating on the origins and development of the institution. We focus especially on the remains of monumental synagogues such as Capernaum and the startling iconography that decorates some of these buildings, which includes the Greco-Roman sun god Helios.

Labels: early christianity, Jodi Magness, judaism

The Jesus Tomb: Is It Fact or Fiction Scholars Chime In, is a comprehensive review of the claims of Hollywood's The Lost Tomb of Jesus documentary and its book, Jesus Family Tomb.

Astrea Magazine recently interviewed the author, Don Sausa, regarding the book. Their announcement can be found below:

Dear all,

We are pleased to announce our interview with Don Sausa about his book "The Jesus Tomb: Is It Fact or Fiction Scholars Chime In."

In this book, Don Sausa reviews Simcha Jacobovici's claims through biblical, historic, and scientific analysis. By reviewing the evidence and interviewing biblical scholars, archaeologists, and DNA experts, Sausa answers the most important question about this discovery -- is it fact or fiction?

Click here for the interview.


BTW, as you already know, we are working on a Jesus Tomb Series. Don Sausa's interview is the second entry in that series. We have also scheduled interviews with:

- Israel museum curator, David Mevorah
- Professor Fida Hassnain, author of The Fifth Gospel
- Dr. James Tabor , author of The Jesus Dynasty.

In addition we are also trying to get Tom Harpur and Peter Walker on the show.

Check out this space in near future as we will be uploading above mentioned interviews, a fine selection of experts supporting or criticising the Jesus tomb topic and/or discussing competing theories, soon in this Theatre!!!!!

Enjoy,

The Astraea team

Labels: jerusalem, Jesus, jesus dynasty, Jodi Magness, lost tomb of Jesus, talpiot, talpiyot

King Herod's tomb has been found! At least according to Dr. Netzer, Professor Emeritus at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Unlike the tunnel-vision type of research released by the makers of the Jesus Family Tomb, Dr. Netzer isn't spending millions of dollars on books and film, secretly hiding research with non-disclosure agreements.

Nope, he came out and said, hey, we have a possible tomb site for King Herod matching with historic textual evidence (Josephus). Let's all take a look at it.

Dr. Netzer is a true academic, he isn't hiding his "precious" research with Gollum-like suspicion.

---

Press release as follows:

Tomb of King Herod discovered at Herodium by Hebrew University archaeologist

Jerusalem, May 8, 2007 -- The long search for Herod the Great’s tomb has ended with the exposure of the remains of his grave, sarcophagus and mausoleum on Mount Herodium’s northeastern slope, Prof. Ehud Netzer of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Institute of Archaeology announced today.

Herod was the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4 BCE, who was renowned for his many monumental building projects, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the palace at Masada, as well as the complex at Herodium, 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem. .

Herodium is the most outstanding among King Herod’s building projects. This is the only site that carries his name and the site where he chose to be buried and to memorialize himself -- all of this with the integration of a huge, unique palace at the fringe of the desert, said Prof. Netzer. Therefore, he said, the exposure of his tomb becomes the climax of this site’s research.

The approach to the burial site - which has been described by the archaeologists involved as one of the most striking finds in Israel in recent years - was via a monumental flight of stairs (6.5 meters wide) leading to the hillside that were especially constructed for the funeral procession.

The excavations on the slope of the mountain, at whose top is the famed structure comprised of a palace, a fortress and a monument, commenced in August 2006. The expedition, on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was conducted by Prof. Netzer, together with Yaakov Kalman and Roi Porath and with the participation of local Bedouins.

The location and unique nature of the findings, as well as the historical record, leave no doubt that this was Herod’s burial site, said Prof. Netzer.

The mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times. In its place remained only part of its well built podium, or base, built of large white ashlars (dressed stone) in a manner and size not previously revealed at Herodium.

Among the many high quality architectural elements, mostly well decorated, which were spread among the ruins, is a group of decorated urns (made in the form of special jars that were used to store body ashes). Similar ones are to be found on the top of burial monuments in the Nabatean world. The urns had a triangular cover and were decorated on the sides.

Spread among the ruins are pieces of a large, unique sarcophagus (close to 2.5 meters long), made of a Jerusalemite reddish limestone, which was decorated by rosettes. The sarcophagus had a triangular cover, which was decorated on its sides. This is assumed with certainty to be the sarcophagus of Herod. Only very few similar sarcophagi are known in the country and can be found only in elaborate tombs such as the famous one at the King’s Tomb on Selah a-Din Street in East Jerusalem. Although no inscriptions have been found yet at Herodium, neither on the sarcophagus nor in the building remains, these still might be found during the continuation of the dig.

Worthy of note is the fact that the sarcophagus was broken into hundreds of pieces, no doubt deliberately. This activity, including the destruction of the monument, apparently took place in the years 66-72 C.E. during the first Jewish revolt against the Romans, while Jewish rebels took hold of the site, according to Josephus and the archaeological evidence. The rebels were known for their hatred of Herod and all that he stood for, as a “puppet ruler” for the Romans.

The search for Herod’s tomb, which actively began 30 years ago, focused until the middle of 2006 at Lower Herodium, in an area which was, no doubt, especially built for the funeral and burial of the king - the “Tomb Estate.” In order to reveal there the remains from Herod’s days, the expedition was “forced” to first expose a large complex of Byzantine structures (including a church), an effort that demanded many years of digging.

The Tomb Estate included two monumental buildings and a large ritual bath (mikveh) as well as the large route (350 meters long and 30 meters wide) which was prepared for the funeral. When no sign of the burial place itself was found within the Tomb Estate, the expedition started to search for it on the slope of the hill, although there seems to be no doubt that the initial intention of the king was to be buried in the estate and that only in a later stage of his life - apparently when he grew old - did he change his mind and asked to be buried within the artificial cone which gave the hill of Herodium its current volcano-shape.

The main historical source of the Second Temple’s days, the historian Josephus Flavius, has described the site of Herodium in detail, as well as the funeral in the year 4 BCE, but not the tomb proper. He wrote as follows:

“The king’s funeral next occupied his attention. Archelaus, omitting nothing that could contribute to its magnificence, brought forth all the royal ornaments to accompany the procession in honor of the deceased. The bier was of solid gold, studded with precious stones, and had a covering of purple, embroidered with various colors; on this lay the body enveloped in purple robe, a diadem encircling the head and surmounted by a crown of gold, the scepter beside his right hand.

Around the bier were Herod’s sons and a large group of his relations; these were followed by the guards, the Thracian contingent, Germans and Gauls, all equipped as for war. The reminder of the troops marched in front, armed and in orderly array, led by their commanders and subordinate officers; behind these came five hundred of Herod’s servants and freedmen, carrying spices. The body was thus conveyed for a distance of two hundred furlongs to Herodium, where, in accordance with the directions of the deceased, it was interred. So ended Herod’s reign.”
Jewish Wars, 1,23,9

Prof. Netzer started his archaeological activity at Herodium in 1972, at first on a small scale. The scope of his work widened with the decision to turn Herodium (the mount together with Lower Herodium) into a national park, which was due to occupy 125 acres. (Until that stage only the mount was proclaimed as a national park and was operated by the Nature and Parks Authority.)

The enlargement of the park started in 1980; unfortunately the activity at the site stopped as a result of the first Intifada, but not before the complex of tunnels from the days of Bar-Kokhba, within the mount, were opened to the public. The archaeological excavations at the site, which also stopped in 1987, were renewed 10 years later and continued until 2000, and after a second break, were renewed at the end of 2005.

Prof. Netzer gained his first “intimate” acknowledgement of Herodian architecture while joining Prof. Yigael Yadin (in 1963-66), in his expedition at Masada. Netzer’s Ph.D. dissertation in archaeology, guided by Prof. Yadin, brought him to initiate excavations both at Lower Herodium and at Jericho – at the complex of Hasmonean and Herodian Winter Palaces. (The site at Jericho, following Netzer’s excavations, includes three palaces of Herod and a hitherto unknown large complex of Hasmonean winter palaces). Additional Herodian structures in other parts of the country were also uncovered by him. He has written various books and articles on the topic of Herodian architecture.

Yaakov Kalman, archaeologist and farmer, participated in many excavations throughout the country and took an active part in Netzer’s excavations at Masada, Jericho and Herodium. Roi Porath took an active part in the survey of the Judean Desert caves and has many significant finds in his record.

The current excavations benefited from donations of private individuals, and the assistance of the Israel Exploration Society and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.


Want to learn more about Jewish tombs and why The Lost Tomb of Jesus isn't the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth? See the book below.

Labels: Hebrew University, Herod, james tabor, lost tomb of Jesus, Netzer

Dr. Tabor, the scholar that was consulted for the book, The Jesus Family Tomb and the docudrama film, The Lost Tomb of Jesus, now offers fresh ideas on his blog that Jesus was married because Paul didn't mention him being single or married. A snip from his blog 05/01/07:

"I think one can conclude that if Paul had known Jesus to have been single or unmarried, living a celibate life, he would have mentioned it prominently. In fact it would have been one of his main points. It would have been irresistible. He mounts every possible defense of celibacy, but in the end is only able to appeal to his own example. Imagine how much more rigorously he could have argued had he been able to say, “follow me here, as I follow Christ.” In this particular case I think his silence is “deafening.” As with Cephas, the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, he knows that having a wife as a companion is the norm and pattern in the group. Paul must have known that Jesus was married, and he, as our earliest witness, would surely have been in a position to know. When he can use the teachings of Jesus or the example of Jesus he does. Here is an obvious example where he can not.

There's a problem with this line of speculative thinking. The logic is: Since it isn't mentioned, and there's no evidence for it, the opposite must be true. If we carry the same logic throughout the works of Paul, we start facing all kinds of conclusions about different topics regarding Jesus.

1. First, let's understand that 1 Corinthians was a long letter. Originally, it didn't have any chapters or verse numbers.
   
2. Second, Paul was writing about lawsuits (1 Cor 6) among believers just a couple of paragraphs before he talked about being single (1 Cor 7).
   
3. Third, now let's apply the logic that Dr. Tabor uses on 1 Cor 6. Since Paul never mentioned Jesus suing anyone or not suing anyone, Jesus must have sued someone.
   
4. Fourth, let's use Dr. Tabor's logic on 1 Cor 6:12 where it talks about sexual immorality. Since Jesus is not mentioned specifically as someone that was sexually immoral, or vice versa, then He probably conducted sexual immorality.
   

The fact is, the Bible does not say that Jesus was married. In fact, His love for the people of the world was based on agape love, the unconditional love that a father would have towards a child. [Jn 3:16; John 13:35] What Tabor is suggesting is that Jesus had eros love towards someone, which is not only speculative, but lacks any textual evidence in the Bible.

It's very easy to see now why Dr. Tabor chose to be part of the The Lost Tomb of Jesus docudrama.

For a resource that reviews The Lost Tomb of Jesus and The Jesus Family Tomb, the following book is available:

Labels: james tabor, Jesus, jesus dynasty, Jesus family tomb, lost tomb of Jesus, talpiot, talpiyot

TV Week highlighted the other day that Discovery Channel is no longer airing the Lost Tomb of Jesus, despite the fact that it had over 4 million viewers on its opening night. In the past, when Discovery had such successes in ratings, they would immediately send out a press release. However, they remained silent. No additional press releases. No additional re-runs.

Perhaps the overall negative response from secular, non-Christian scholars have put Discovery in check: avoid sensationalism, have better, factual programming.

Labels: jerusalem, Jesus family tomb, Lost T, lost tomb of Jesus, talpiot